Mischa Barton joins Neighbours: The OC star excited to be part of 'iconic show's next chapter' following revamp

Actress Mischa Barton rose to fame playing Marissa Cooper in The OC, a hit 2000s show about the residents of a coastal city in Orange County, California. Neighbours might seem like an unusual move - but this isn't the first time the worlds of Ramsay Street and Newport Beach have collided.

Tuesday 18 April 2023 10:15, UK

Mischa Barton attends "The Hills: New Beginnings" premiere party at Liaison on Wednesday, June 19, 2019, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP) Mischa Barton attends "The Hills: New Beginnings" premiere party at Liaison on Wednesday, June 19, 2019, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP)
Image: Pic: Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP
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Ramsay Street... here we come - Mischa Barton is set to join Neighbours for the Australian soap's revival.

The actress, who rose to fame in the early 2000s hit show The OC, will guest star in the forthcoming series - confirmed just months after the original show was axed from Channel 5 in the UK.

In a statement, the official Neighbours social media accounts said the star will play Reece, an American who is new to the fictional Melbourne suburb of Erinsborough and is "not quite who she appears to be".

The OC stars (L-R) Ben McKenzie, Rachel Bilson, Mischa Barton and Adam Brody at the 2003 Billboard Music Awards. Pic: Star Max via AP
Image: The OC stars (L-R) Ben McKenzie, Rachel Bilson, Mischa Barton and Adam Brody in 2003. Pic: Star Max via AP

Barton, 37, said: "I'm excited to be part of this iconic show's next chapter, and I am really looking forward to being back in Australia, a place I know and love!

"I think the character of Reece is going to be a great role for me to explore and play with."

Barton appeared as a child star in The Sixth Sense and later in the film Lawn Dogs before going on to become a household name playing Marissa Cooper in the first three seasons of The OC.

The show followed the lives of a close-knit group of people in the wealthy neighbourhood of Newport Beach, Orange County, California.

Also starring Adam Brody, Rachel Bilson and Ben McKenzie, the series featured cameos and appearances from a range of stars, including Olivia Wilde, George Lucas, Amber Heard, Paris Hilton and Chris Pratt.

Read more:
Neighbours then and now: Stars who returned to Ramsay Street
Karl's affairs; Susan's slap; Paul's (many) schemes - Neighbours stars remember favourite scenes

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The OC-Neighbours link

Coincidentally, there is already a Neighbours connection with The OC - Alan Dale, who played Jim Robinson in the Australian soap in the 1980s and '90s, starred as ruthless businessman Caleb Nichol - Marissa's step-father.

Barton later appeared in a revamped version of LA reality show The Hills and also in the music video for the Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds single Everybody's On The Run.

Neighbours, which launched in 1985, seemingly came to an end after 37 years in July 2022, when former stars including Kylie Minogue, Jason Donovan, Guy Pearce and Margot Robbie joined the cast for what was then thought to be the final episode.

It came as the soap failed to secure new funding.

Undated handout photo issued by Channel 5 of Kylie Minogue and Jason Donovan reunited on the set of Australian soap opera Neighbours, reprising their roles as Charlene and Scott Robinson as the Australian soap comes to an end after 37 years on screen. Issue date: Monday July 11, 2022.
Image: Kylie Minogue and Jason Donovan made an appearance for the 'final' Neighbours episode in 2022

'Viewers are going to love her'

Streaming site Amazon Freevee and production company Fremantle announced for a revival just months after the finale, with a new series to begin on the service in the autumn.

Neighbours' executive producer Jason Herbison said: "With Neighbours launching on Amazon Freevee in North America, we are beyond excited to have an actor of Mischa's calibre join us for the beginning of this exciting new chapter.

"Mischa's character is dynamic and unpredictable, and will have an instant presence on Ramsay Street. Our loyal viewers are going to love her, locally and abroad."

Read more:
Neighbours - the 'final' episode
How a British schoolgirl helped change TV history

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The Neighbours reboot will see the return of a number of favourites including Karl and Susan Kennedy, Toadie Rebecchi and Paul Robinson.

It will premiere exclusively on Amazon Freevee in the UK and US and the site will also stream thousands of Neighbours episodes from previous series.

The series will also stream on Prime Video in Australia, New Zealand and Canada.

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